Abstract
Concern about eating genetically engineered food is explored for a sample of residents from Florida and North Carolina. Previous research on consumers' food safety concerns and perceived risk associated with food production suggests that concern about genetically engineered food is influenced by three factors. Concern is influenced by how well informed consumers are about food technology, their capacity to understand that information, and the compatibility of genetic engineering with consumers' moral beliefs. Utilizing logistic regression, women and persons who viewed genetic engineering to be morally wrong were found to have greater concern about eating genetically engineered foods. Awareness and educational attainment also decreased concern about among North Carolina residents. For the Florida sample, awareness had no effect on concern, and education decreased concern for only one of two types of food. Although addressing concerns based on moral beliefs may be problematic, efforts to better inform consumers, especially women, might reduce their concern.
Recommended Citation
Israel, Glenn, and Thomas Hoban. 1992. "Concern About Eating Genetically Engineered Food." Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 09(1): Article 2. Available at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/jrss/vol09/iss1/2
Publication Date
12-31-1992
